Top Irish rider has an eye for a Diamond

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CONTROVERSIAL Irish jockey Kieren Fallon is keen to make his
first trip to Australia to ride English stayer Carte Diamond in the
$5 million Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 1.

Fallon has told the connections of Carte Diamond he will come
for the cup if suitable flight arrangements can be made after he
rides at the Breeders' Cup meeting at Belmont in New York, which
will be run early on Sunday, October 30, Melbourne time.

Other than Leica Falcon, who flew home for fifth, Carte
Diamond's effort in Saturday's Caulfield Cup was regarded the best
Melbourne Cup trial of the unplaced runners. After being checked
coming down the straight the first time, Carte Diamond got back
into the second half of the field and only got going over the final
400 metres to finish ninth, just over three lengths from the winner
Railings.

Carte Diamond ran the third-fastest last 200 metres of the race
and jockey Weichong Marwing, who is committed to Greys Inn in the
Melbourne Cup, told trainer Brian Ellison he would be a great ride
in the race.

Fallon, now stable rider for leading Irish trainer Aidan
O'Brien, has been embroiled in several alleged betting scandals in
recent years although nothing has been proved against him.

Lorraine Ellison, who has been looking after Carte Diamond in
Melbourne for her father, said yesterday that the horse appeared to
have taken no harm from his run on Saturday, had eaten up overnight
and was "screaming" for his breakfast yesterday.

Carte Diamond's English form was further enhanced at the weekend
when Sergeant Cecil won the Cesarewitch at Newmarket, the final
feature distance handicap of the season, becoming the first horse
to complete the treble  the first two legs were the
Northumberland Plate and Ebor Handicap  in the same
season.

In the Ebor, run over 2800 metres, Carte Diamond conceded 4.5
kilograms to Sergeant Cecil and finished second, beaten a
length.

Eye Popper, the first Japanese runner in a Caulfield Cup, also
pulled up well after his sensational effort to finish second to
Railings.

Stable spokesman Manabu Ikezoe said yesterday that Eye Popper
was "good" and would follow the same preparation that has had the
lightly raced six-year-old thriving in Melbourne.

Godolphin spokesman Alan Byrne said Fantastic Love would run in
Wednesday's Geelong Cup (2400 metres) or Saturday's Cathay Pacific
Airways (Moonee Valley) Cup over 2500 metres as a lead-up to the
Melbourne Cup. No decision would be made about Razkalla for a few
days after his disappointing run in the Caulfield Cup.

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1129401146397-theage.com.auhttp://www.theage.com.au/news/horse-racing/top-irish-rider-has-an-eye-for-a-diamond/2005/10/16/1129401146397.htmltheage.com.auThe Age2005-10-17Top Irish rider has an eye for a DiamondTony BourkeSportHorseracing